Howard Junior Upston, 84, of Tekonsha, passed away July 22, 2021 at home following a short illness.
A celebration of Howard’s life will be held on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Lighthouse of Tekonsha, 616 N. Main Street, Tekonsha. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Tekonsha. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 from 5:00-8:00 PM, also at Lighthouse of Tekonsha.
Howard was born November 10, 1936 in Tekonsha, Michigan to Howard and Viola (Wendorf) Upston. He graduated from Tekonsha High School in 1954 and was a member of the Michigan National Guard for a few years. On May 12, 1956, he married Madilyn Thomas. They lived in Grandville for eight years while Howard was with Rieth-Riley Road Construction, before returning to Tekonsha. One of his Rieth-Riley projects was constructing I-69.
Upon retiring after 30 years with the company, Howard went to work for Tekonsha Community Schools in 1991, serving as a bus driver, custodian and groundskeeper. He retired from the THS in 2007 and started his own lawnmowing business, which he operated until his death. Howard enjoyed his lawn mowing almost as much as being with his family and watching his grandchildren playing sports. He also enjoyed woodworking and watching old gameshows. He was a former member of the Tekonsha Lions Club, the Tekonsha Athletic Boosters Club and Fredonia Grange.
Howard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Madilyn; son Howard Walter (Debbie) Upston of Tekonsha; daughter Deidre (Daniel) Cross of Sherwood; two grandsons, Shaun Upston of Burlington and Logan Cross of Marshall; four granddaughters, Deborah (Carl) Thompson of Tekonsha, Brittni Hughes of Three Rivers, Ashley Cross of Madison, FL and Danielle Cross of Tekonsha; great-grandson Ivan Hughes; great-granddaughter Payton Thompson; two step-granddaughters, Heather Jefferies of Burlington and Katelyn Emmel of Tekonsha; five great-grandchildren: Hannah Macomber, Aiden Dodson, Landen Brown, Gabriel Smith and Gavin Smith; brother Tom (Gail) Upston of North Carolina; sisters Rolene Rann of Texas and Debra (Donald) Pierce of Tekonsha; brother-in-law Larry (Carolyn) Thomas, Tekonsha and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents; sister Betty Cummins; brother Clarence Upston; brothers-in-law William Cummins and Jerry Rann; niece Sherry Cummins; and nephews Bill Cummins and Calvin Cummins.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Tekonsha Athletic Boosters Club, 245 S. Elm Street, Tekonsha, MI 49092.
Please visit www.lighthousefuneral.com to share memories, pictures and videos with the family.
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